Northeast Boise's Landmark

This site is developed and maintained by East End residents interested in Boise’s Historic National Guard Armory. It’s for you, who are curious about the Armory’s history, the structure itself, and how it might be transformed from a liability into an asset — benefitting the surrounding neighborhoods and Boise in general.

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Work begins to secure and stabilize Armory

Planning & Zoning, City Council Actions The East End Armory Committee and many other interested residents attended last summer’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to review the Armory’s status. City staff, neighbors and the Blueprint Boise plan were all in agreement on the building’s role as a historic structure in a strategic location. Testimony at the P&Z meeting largely focused on the importance of preserving the historic integrity of the structure and its cast Art Deco concrete surfaces. The Commission agreed, and recommended placing a Design Review Overlay and maintaining a detailed development agreement on the entire five-acre parcel, to include the Armory. This would secure an option for public involvement moving forward.

One concern expressed during testimony questioned a proposal by J&M to use a cosmetic brick overlay on the historic concrete surface. Not only would this add significantly to the cost of renovation without any structural benefit, it would (according to historic preservation representatives from the National Trust and Preservation Idaho) detract from the historic character of the Armory and render the project ineligible for Historic Tax Credits*—a potentially significant financial consideration.

The outcome of the P&Z meeting addressed this concern in large part through the Design Review recommendation (supported by city staff, preservation groups and the EENA Armory subcommittee).

The Boise City Council subsequently voted (with Councilwoman Elaine Clegg opposing the motion) to remove the Design Review overlay from the Armory itself, in effect eliminating further public input in the exterior appearance of the structure. The City then approved a zone change to C-2 for the entire five-acre parcel and a development agreement transferring the property to J&M Land. According to the terms of that agreement, residential use is allowed on the undeveloped portion of the property; in fact, the development agreement requires mixed use, and any type of development will require a conditional use permit, allowing the public to weigh in when that permit is applied for.

As of November 3 last year, following the Armory’s transfer, the Idaho Statesman reported,

“So far, there’s no precise plan for what the 80-year-old building will become, J&M Land manager Mike McCollum said. Nor is there a firm time frame for getting started on rehabbing the building.”

What’s happening now? Those of us in the East End following the Armory story have seen ample evidence of activity at the site for the past month or two. A portion of the property is now fenced off and crews have been working to remove non-structural materials and accumulated ‘stuff’ from the Armory’s interior, presumably prior to renovation. The plans submitted by J&M to the Statesman and available to our committee show new brick being added to the to second-floor additions overlooking Reserve Street.

Although subcommittee members have referred potential tenants to J&M over the past several months, it is unclear who will ultimately occupy the Armory or what sort of purpose the building and grounds will serve. We’re hoping for an outcome that is consistent with the past five years of public comment and recommendation. As always, we welcome communication from J&M on the current status, and stand ready to support outcomes that reflect community and neighborhood interests and are in harmony with Blueprint Boise and development agreement details.